Ruppersberger and MD Delegation Announce $1.4 Million BRAC Grant

(Washington, D.C.)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland 2nd) and other Members of the Maryland Delegation are pleased to announce a $1.4 million dollar grant to address expected needs around Fort Meade because of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.  As part of BRAC, more than 20,000 jobs are being relocated to the base.  The money will assist nearby communities including Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the City of Laurel as they plan for additional infrastructure needs.    

"It is important that we work together on a local, state, and federal level to plan for the additional jobs and residents that will be moving to Maryland through BRAC,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland 2nd).  “This $1.4 million will help us do that in a coordinated effort so that we do not negatively impact the residents already living here.   This is just the beginning.  Team Maryland intends to fight for more funding on Capitol Hill to help with the expected transportation, education, healthcare, economic, housing, and other infrastructure needs.” 

Congressman Ruppersberger is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.  The Maryland 2nd District includes parts of Anne Arundel County, Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City and includes Fort Meade, the National Security Agency, Aberdeen Proving Ground, the Port of Baltimore, BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport, and the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay.    

“The 2005 BRAC announcements were great news for Maryland and the nation,” said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Maryland). “They were a testament to the strength of Maryland’s military bases, our military and the communities that support them.  But we must now work together to help Maryland address the increased demands on our communities.  That’s why I am so proud our counties will have these funds for community adjustment assistance with the realignment at Fort Meade. We fought to win BRAC as Team Maryland, and we will fight to make sure Maryland communities have what they need in the federal checkbook to implement the BRAC decisions.”

“Maryland has been chosen through the BRAC process for an expanded military and intelligence presence,” said U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Maryland). “We are proud of this new mission, and the $1.4 million Community Adjustment grant to Anne Arundel County will assist the County in helping to prepare for the changes that will be needed.”

“I am proud to have worked with Congressman Sarbanes and other Members of the Maryland delegation to secure these funds.  We must do everything we can to help Maryland-based service members adjust to the changes caused by BRAC,” U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryland-7th), the only Maryland Democrat to serve on the House Armed Services Committee said.  “Additionally, the number of jobs provided by this opportunity will have a positive impact on Maryland’s economy.”

Congressman John P. Sarbanes, (D-Maryland 3rd), who represents many communities surrounding the base, sent a letter to the Department of Defense, “Office of Economic Adjustment funding, to be used in coordination with significant state and local resources, is critical to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place to assimilate these hard working men and women in a way that is least disruptive to Fort Meade’s surrounding communities. In Maryland, we are very proud of the military installations across our State and we stand ready to support these facilities.”

The grant was awarded through the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA).

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